Southeast People News for April 2021
Atlanta-based design firm Pond announced the promotion of Lorraine Green to president and chief operating officer. Green, with more than 35 years of engineering and consulting experience, is a 13-year veteran of Pond and has served as president since 2018.
“Lorraine brings decades of experience to the chief operating officer position and has a proven track record of growth and customer-centric services as president,” says CEO Tony Parker. “Since joining Pond in 2008, Lorraine’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in growing our markets into the robust services we offer clients today.”
Jannet Walker-Ford, with more than two decades of experience in mobility and transportation systems, has joined WSP USA’s Jacksonville, Fla., office as a senior vice president. In this role, Walker-Ford will be responsible for growing the firm’s transit and rail markets, developing client relationships and participating in strategic pursuits.
Michael Mangione, WSP national markets director for transportation, says of the appointment: “Walker-Ford’s background of developing successful strategies for transit, rail, aviation, highways and tolling projects makes her a perfect fit to lead WSP’s national transit and rail business.” Most recently, Walker-Ford served as a senior vice president and transit market sector leader with AECOM.
Greg Akers, division leader of aviation and aerospace manufacturing for Jacksonville, Fla.-based Haskell, has been promoted to vice president. Akers, who joined Haskell in 1999, has had “incredible success” executing projects in the aviation and aerospace, manufacturing and distribution, and food and beverage market sectors, says Pete Kinsley, president of Haskell’s infrastructure and transportation group.
Moss Construction has promoted Alfredo Espinosa to vice president of solar preconstruction. Espinosa has been with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based construction firm for five years, starting as an intern and working his way up in Moss’ solar program. In his new role, Espinosa will lead efforts in business development, estimating engineering and contracts for projects across the U.S.
Michael T. Jordan was promoted to senior principal in Terracon’s Raleigh office. With 20 years of experience, Jordan serves as the Raleigh office manager.
Gilbane Building Co. promoted Heidi DeBenedetti to executive vice president. Based in Orlando, DeBenedetti will oversee the firm’s Southeast division while maintaining executive responsibility of the federal division, which includes fuels, environmental and federal facilities construction services.
Rob Clark has joined Gilbane as client account manager for the federal facilities U.S. business unit. Clark, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, recently served as commander of the USACE’s Wilmington, N.C., District.
Brian Walsh, founder of The Collage Companies in Lake Mary, Fla., is now chairman and CEO of the construction and integrated services firm. Succeeding Walsh as president is Rob Maphis. Maphis has served as executive vice president since 2016.
